A Student's Essential Guide To London Slideshow

Full English Breakfast

Without a doubt, every visitor to London, or England in general, should try a full English breakfast. Traditionally, this includes bacon, poached or fried eggs, fried mushrooms, toast, sausages, fried or grilled tomatoes, and baked beans. Yes, baked beans for breakfast. As almost everything is fried, it is oftentimes referred to as a "fry-up." If you have a full day of tourist attractions and exploring ahead of you, there is no better way to fill up your stomach. Plus, the breakfast will include hot tea or coffee.

Most restaurants serving breakfast and lunch will have this item on their menu. However, Workers Café is quick, and reasonably priced. For less than £5 (about $7), you can come in hungry, and leave stuffed and ready for a day in the city. 

Borough Market

After you make your way past Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and across the Thames via the Tower Bridge, Borough Market should be your next stop. You're probably still going to be full from that big breakfast, but once you see the fresh breads, variety of cheeses, and endless desserts that the historic market has to offer, you'll find a little more room in your stomach to fit a freshly grilled sausage or two.

Afternoon Tea

No trip to the United Kingdom would be complete without a fancy afternoon tea fit for the queen. Warning: you might have to shell out a few more pounds than you might like for this experience, but it is worth it. At £45 (about $67) per person, tea at The Ritz will present you with six different kinds of little sandwiches, freshly baked scones paired with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserves, and an assortment of pastries and cakes to go along with your tea. Think £45 is too much of a splurge? The Wolseley offers a very similar menu at only £22.50 (about $33) per person. Make sure to make a reservation at either location before you go!

Fish & Chips

Voted by Metro as one of London's best fish and chips restaurants, The Golden Hind is a delicious and reliable choice for trying out this classic English dish. The restaurant itself can be a bit packed, but you won't be complaining after you taste the crispy batter covering the flaky fish. A unique aspect of The Golden Hind is that it is BYOB. You can bring your own wine, beer, or cider!

Chicken Curry

The last thing you have to eat in order to complete your abbreviated London adventure would be a plate of chicken curry. Nope, it's not an original British dish, but as a large portion of London's population is of Indian descent, Londoners have perfected Indian cuisine. If you stroll down Brick Lane, you will have your choice of restaurants to test out. Café Naz has an affordable lunch buffet that allows visitors to taste everything from the classic chicken curry to a dessert bar with all sorts of Indian sweets!